Rob gang strikes at East West Bank branch in Binondo

A group of armed robbers struck at a closed bank branch in Binondo, Manila Monday night, but failed to get any money after failing to open the time-locked vault.

Responding policemen led by Superintendent Nelson Yabut were only a couple of minutes late after the robbers, numbering about 13, made a clean get away after the alarm of the East West Bank sounded off.

The failed robbery attempt at East West Bank branch along Soler street in Binondo puzzled the police since the robbers struck at around 8:40 p.m. when the bank has long been closed for the day. Even the angle of an inside job could be quite far-fetched, according to Yabut, since the robbers failed to notice a group of bank employees counting a large amount of money at the second floor of the bank.

Investigation showed that the bank’s security guard Joelito Tolentino was followed by two suspects, disguised as personnel of Armored Tech, when he threw garbage outside of the bank. Security guards of Armored Tech escort personnel of East West Bank during cash deliveries.

Once inside, the suspects divested Tolentino and another guard, Sean John Catalan, of their firearms and handcuffed them. Three other armed suspects then entered the bank. The suspects tried to open the bank vault to no avail since it was equipped with a time-lock device.

Job Lizada, the bank supervisor, who was at the second floor together with five other male employees counting money, was about to go out of the room to smoke when he noticed the presence of the armed men below.

He immediately returned to the room and told his co-workers to lock themselves up at the second floor vault. He also called up Richard Uy, the bank assistant manager, through his cell phone to inform him of the ongoing robbery.

The suspects escaped when the bank alarm sounded off. They also took the guards’ shotgun and Catalan’s cell phone. Uy even witnessed the escaping suspects.

According to Uy, the suspects escaped on board a dark blue Toyota FX van (RCC-287) and a RAV 4. He counted the suspects to number at least 13, including the lookouts. One of the suspects was caught on the close-circuit television camera of the bank while trying to open the vault.

Yabut lamented the failure of the bank personnel to inform the police of their overtime duty and counting a large amount of money. “We could have provided them with security and patrol team had the bank personnel inform us of their night duty,” he said.

A motorized anti-crime police patrol crew had just passed by the bank minutes before the robbers strike, accrording to Yabut.

Yabut said he received information that the suspects are part of a large group of bank robbers based in the northern part of Metro Manila. He is now verifying the ownership of the vehicle at the Land Transportation Office. An artist’s sketch of one of the suspects is also being matched with the rogue gallery of known robbery gangs.

Yabut said the robbers struck with impunity at the bank in spite of the presence of the adjacent barangay hall manned by rescue and assistance personnel.